Top 20 Non-Obvious Destinations Near Washington, DC

Kramerbooks & Afterwords

Iconic 24-hour bookstore-cafe near Dupont Circle.

0.3 miles from downtown

Library of Congress

Widely considered the most ornate library interior in the US.

0.4 miles from downtown

Lost City Books

Curated used, new, and rare books for the intellectually curious.

0.8 miles from downtown

National Children's Museum

1.0 miles from downtown

Howard University Sundial ("The Dial")

Honors Benjamin Banneker at the center of Howard's main quad, dedicated 1929.

1.4 miles from downtown

United States Botanic Garden

1.9 miles from downtown

Politics & Prose

DC institution known for nightly author talks and events.

2.2 miles from downtown

Washington National Cathedral Sundial

Landmark Memorial Sundial and Altar, dedicated 1905.

2.4 miles from downtown

Bridge St Books

Georgetown shop known for philosophy, history, and literary criticism.

3.0 miles from downtown

East City Bookshop

Capitol Hill gathering place for book lovers and literary events.

3.0 miles from downtown

U.s. National Arboretum

National collection, federally operated.

4.2 miles from downtown

One More Page Books

Woman-owned indie bookstore serving Arlington since 2011.

6.8 miles from downtown

Font Books & Gifts

McLean's own independent bookstore, open since 2023.

7.2 miles from downtown

Bards Alley

Founded in 2017, stocks over 5,000 classic and contemporary titles.

12 miles from downtown

Washington's Grist Mill

Reconstructed mill on George Washington's estate.

14 miles from downtown

Cricket Book Shop

17 miles from downtown